Britain's Prince William makes first royal visit to Israel

Britain's Prince William, the duke of Cambridge, shakes hands with the Israeli delegation upon his arrival to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel , on Monday. Photo by Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE

An Israeli flag flies Monday on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. Britain's Prince William will visit the site this week -- the first official visit to Israel by a member of the royal family. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

A Palestinian girl rides a donkey Monday on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. Britain's Prince William visit the site this week -- the first official visit to Israel by a member of the royal family. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Tourists look at the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Monday. Britain's Prince William will visit the site this week -- the first official visit to Israel by a member of the royal family. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Tourists look at the Old City of Jerusalem Monday on the Mount of Olives. Britain's Prince William will visit the site this week -- the first official visit to Israel by a member of the royal family. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Tourists look at the Old City of Jerusalem Monday from the Mount of Olives. Britain's Prince William will and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, will visit the site this week -- the first official visit to Israel by a member of the royal family. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Prince William walks in the archaeological ruins of Jerash in Jordan on Monday, at the start of a five-day trip to the Middle East. Photo courtesy Kensington Palace/Twitter

June 25 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince William arrived Monday in Israel as part of a historic five-day tour of the Middle East that marks the first-ever official visit by a member of the royal family.

Second in line to the British throne, William, formally known as the duke of Cambridge, arrived in Tel Aviv after departing from Jordan. He is expected to tour the Western Wall, Muslim and Christian holy sites, and occupied Palestinian territories.

The prince's trip was announced in March and welcomed by Israeli and Palestinian officials.

British royals have historically declined invitations for official state visits to Israel. William's marks the first time a member of Britain's royal family visited Israel as an official representative of the London government.

British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said the visit is an "important and unique opportunity to promote diplomatic and cultural ties in the region."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it "a historic visit" and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he hopes it will "contribute to strengthening ties of friendship between the two peoples."

Although Britain and Israel are considered allies, Prince William's visit comes at a time of some disagreement. Britain was critical of the United States moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last month, and British Prime Minister Theresa May called for Israeli restraint after dozens of Palestinian protesters were shot to death at the Gaza-Israel border earlier this year.

On Sunday, William and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein watched a World Cup soccer match together and later visited the archaeological ruins of Jerash, a Roman city dating to the first century.

The site has a personal connection to the royal couple. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was photographed there by father Michael Middleton in 1984, when she was a child. Her family moved to Jordan when she was two years old after her father was relocated by his employer, British Airways.

The Duke of Cambridge and The Crown Prince arrive at the spectacular Jerash archaeological site, a first century Roman city, and one of Jordan's greatest tourist attractions. pic.twitter.com/kZzwXrebQk